Femtosecond micromachining of symmetric waveguides at 1.5 mu m by astigmatic beam focusing

We report on a new spatial beam-shaping approach for fabrication of waveguides with a circular transverse profile by femtosecond laser pulses, using an astigmatic beam and controlling both beam waist and focal position in the tangential and sagittal planes. We apply this technique to write single-mode active waveguides at 1.5 mum in Er:Yb-doped glass substrates. The experimental results are well described by a simple nonlinear absorption model. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.